A few days ago, I decided that my final MEDS 160: “Approaches to Media Studies” paper would be about “The Hunger Games.” It was perfect timing with the newest film in the series, “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” being released only three weeks ago. My friends and I had the pleasure of watching the film in theaters on the day of its U.S. release, Nov. 17. We were blown away by the phenomenal storytelling and memorable characters, which transported us back to our childhoods and evoked nostalgia for the earlier films and books. In the words of one of my friends: “Cast? HOT. Music? SLAPS.”
[SPOILERS AHEAD]
Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, “The Hunger Games” franchise returned with their latest installment titled, “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” on Nov. 5. Since its release, the prequel has grossed over $200 million in box office sales globally according to Fortune, captivating fans with its unforgettable story about future president of Panem Coriolanus Snow, played by Tom Blyth, and winner of the 10th Hunger Games, Lucy Gray Baird, played by Rachel Zegler.
The film was separated into three distinct parts. Part One focused on the circumstances of the tribute mentorship program devised by the Capitol prior to the Games. Part Two followed the actual events of the 10th Hunger Games eventually culminating in Lucy Gray’s victory. Part Three explored Snow’s life in District 12 with Lucy Gray after his expulsion for cheating during the Games by headmaster Casca Highbottom, played by Peter Dinklage. I appreciated the decision to split the movie into three sections, making the film more digestible and entertaining. Each section had its own unique charm, which made the immersion into the story much more fulfilling. My favorite section of the movie definitely has to be the second because it depicts the Games themselves. I especially loved the high intensity back-and-forth shots between the scenes in the Games and the reactions within the greenroom, almost as if I was watching a film within a film. Ironically, I did not enjoy the transitions between the different parts of the movie. They were extremely jarring and incohesive; the transition between Part Two and Part Three exemplified this issue, as it seemed those parts could have easily become their own separate movies. This is a popular criticism of the film, with fans arguing that the pacing was off-putting and rushed, ultimately detracting from the book’s premise. Despite its inconsistencies, I thoroughly enjoyed the movie for its quirks and peculiar storytelling strategies.
Although Snow and Lucy Gray were the leads of the story, I believe the foremost star of the film has to be weatherman-turned-Hunger Games host Lucretius “Lucky” Flickerman, played by Jason Schwartzman. “The Hunger Games” is not known for its comedy due to its commentaries on various socio-political issues, so Flickerman’s presence was a breath of fresh air. Flickerman became the center of attention, lightening the bleak atmosphere of the film and causing everyone in my theater to laugh at his nonsensical comments. Schwartzman most definitely brought the whimsical personality of Flickerman to life, delivering witty and blunt remarks at every opportunity and taking full advantage of his role. My favorite quote from the character has to be his unexpected response to Lucy Gray’s last effort to collect sponsors: “How wonderful that we all get to be here for someone’s final performance.” Flickerman serves as a satirical character in a crowd of many serious characters, acting as both comedic relief for the audience and propaganda for the Capitol citizens.
Other than Schwartzman, I have to commend the acting of the lesser known actors and actresses in the movie. An aspect that I believe “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” succeeds in is the attention placed on its characters, especially its tributes who are forced to fight to the death in the Games. Unlike the previous movies, which had most of the tribute-specific scenes deleted, this film placed more emphasis on the fallen tributes, providing them much more character development and screen time. Some examples include District 7 girl Lamina, played by Irene Böhm, who had an entire fight sequence dedicated to her death and District 11 boy Reaper Ash, played by Dimitri Abold, who had a scene devoted to his rebellious act against the Capitol. District 4 girl Coral, played by Mackenzie Lansing, also deserves praise for bringing the savagery of the Games’ main antagonist into the limelight. The representation of disability in the film is admirable as well, most notably with District 10 girl Wovey, played by Sofia Sanchez who has Down Syndrome. This again contrasts the previous movies, which rarely showcase visible disabilities in their tributes. The inclusion of visible disability further highlights the cruelty of the Games, showing that no one is safe from its grip. Although it can be argued that this movie inherently focuses more on the tributes due to the events in the book, I still applaud director Francis Lawrence for highlighting the side characters and emphasizing their stories.
Despite being set 64 years in the past, “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” still feels connected to “The Hunger Games” universe. This is partly due to Snow’s presence in the movie, bridging the gap between canon and headcanon stories. His inclusion contextualizes the events of the 74th and 75th Hunger Games, providing fans with a better understanding of his change from a hopeful young man to a sadistic authority figure. However, the connection to the movie franchise can also be attributed to the symbolic referencing of the original movies, which reveals itself in the similarities between Lucy Gray and Katniss Everdeen, the two female District 12 Hunger Games winners, and their involvement with Snow at different periods of his life. The mockingjay is mentioned countless times in the movie as well, offering some much needed history on this symbol of rebellion and highlighting its personal significance for Snow in later films. In spite of the worldbuilding not being at all similar to the original movies, the franchise remains linked through its storytelling, characters and, most importantly, nostalgia.
It was amazing to see “The Hunger Games” franchise come to the big screen again after a decade of its absence. Despite some changes from the book, I still enjoyed the movie with all of my heart. Eight years ago, I thought the franchise was over as the screen for “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2” faded to black. But now in writing this article, I realize that it is just the beginning. Until next time.